Electric heating system for ironing machines



Apr. 10, 1923 F. F. FORSHEE ELECTRIC HEATING SYSTEM FOR IRONING MACHINES Filed Feb. 14, 1921 1 WM w m w Er .n m: A mm 5 WITNESSES:

Patented Apr.10,1923. I

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

raanx r. ronsnna, or rm'nr, mcnrem, assrenda 'ro wnsrmcnousn ELICTBI 'rnonuc'rs commmr, a coaroan'rron or MICHIGAN.

ELECTRIC HEATING SYSTEM FOR IRONING MACHINES.

Application filed February 14, 1921. Serial No. 444,729.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK FJFORSHEE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Flint, in the county of Genesee and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electric Heating Systems for Ironing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

' My invention relates to electrically heated apparatus and particularly to electrically heated ironing machines and it has for one of its objects to provide a new system of control for electrically operated and electrically heated ironing machines.

Another object is to provide a method of so controlling the supply of energy to an electrically heated ironing machine as to permit of maintaining either the entire heating surface or of predetermined portions thereofat a substantially constant temperature.

Heretofore, ironing machines designed for use in the home have been motor operated and a few of the machines now on the 2 market have been electrically heated butno comprehensive system of control for such machines has been provided.

In practicing my invention, I provide an ironing machine of the type in which-an endless belt is caused to move over two rollers by means of an electric motor and I provide an electrically heated pressing shoe for resting upon the upper part of the belt to properly smooth the articles placed upon the belt and movable under the pressing shoe. I provide a heating element which is divided into a plurality of sections, each section being controlled by a manually-operable double-pole switch, one pole of which is used tocontrol the circuit of a thermostat which islocated in heat-receiving relation to the respective sections of the heating means. I provide further a double-pole manuallyoperable switch, one pole of which controls the circuit from all of the thermostats which are connected to an electromagneticallyoperated plural-position switch which further automatically controls the circuit through all of'the sections of the heating means. v

In my copending application Serial No. 446.389 filed February 19, 1921, the general mechanical features of the ironing machine are described, and reference is madeto this application for such details,

which the control circuit vention 1s lncorporated.

Referring to the single sheet of drawings, I

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the circuits comprising my invention, as used in anironing machine, and

Fig. 2 is a view, in front elevation, of the general outline of the ironing machine in embodying my in- An ironing machine 1 comprises, in general, side frames 2, a plurality of rolls 3, which are located in the same horizontal plane and in parallel axial alinement and an endless belt stretched over the two rolls 3 and caused to move by means of suitable driving mechanism actuated by a motor 4. The details of this driving mechanism are disclosed in the above-mentioned application and will not be specially described. here. A treadle 5 is provided the operation of which is also described in the above-numbered application.

v The motor 4 receives ener from a supply circuit 6, and the circuit through the' motor is controlled by means of a manuallyoperable double-pole switch 7, only one pole ofcwhich is, however, used to control the motor circuit. A pressing shoe 8 is located above the top part of the endless belt, and a plurality of electric heating elements 9, 10 and 11 are located in the shoe 8. A plurality of doublepole manually-operable switches 12, 13 and 14 are provided, one pole of each of said switches being adapted to control the supply of energy to .the respective heating elements 9, 10 and 11. Theother pole of each of the switches 12, 13 and 14 controls the circuits of a corresponding number of thermostats 15, 16 and 17 which 'are located in heat-receiving relation to the respective heating elements 9, 10 and 11 inthe shoe 8.

The fixed terminals of all of the thermostats are connected to one conductor 18 which is connected to one conductor of the supply circuit 6. The low contact terminal of the thermostat 15 is connected to one terminal of'the switch 12, and the low terminals of the thermostats 16 and 17 are similarly connected to one terminal of the respective switches 13 and 14. 7 All of the terminals of the switches 12, 13 and 14 to which the low contacts of the thermostats are connected are joined by the conductor. 19 and connected to the second pole of the switch 7 This pole of the switch 7 is connected, by means of a conductor 20, to a coil 21 of the plural-position switch 22. All of the high contact termineis of the thermostats ere connectei together and, by means of a conductor 23, are connected to one terminal of the second ectueting coil 24: of the switch 22.

The switch 22 is provided with two stetionery contact terminels 25 end 28 which are adapted to be 'operetiveiy engaged by s switch arm 27 the position of which is controlied by means of the coils 21 end 2% cpcrating an armature 28. The M1112? is pinoteiiy mounted on e contect terminal 29 which is connected by means of e ccneinctor 80 to one of the conductors oi the supply circuit 6. The second terminei oi the coil 21 is connected to the contact terminal 26,-

any convenient position to ice reached by the 0 eretor out I have shown them as mounted e ove the presslng shoe 8 end necr the righthenii end of the ironing machine 1. The

, so 131 conductors ior hoth the heetin sie- PP g 'ments end the thermostats may he iocnted in snitehie condluit members 31 32 so that connection may he mode hetweei the switches end the hosting eienients nnii the thenmostet located in the shoe 8.

if the niechine hes not been in use for some time, the thermoststs 15, it end It? wiii be substantially in the position shown in Fig, i; that is, the hiineteiiic strip in each thermostat will be in operative ,engegeinent with the iow contact. Iii? the switch 22 is in the position shown in Fig. i, it wiii he possibie energize the heating eiements'i), 10

I end 11 by menueily closing the switches 12,

13am; M. It will be sufficient to trace the current peth through one of the heating elements, for exempts, the heating eie ment 2., The current wiii flow from. the

topivot 29 end from there through: concinctor 3G to the other'condnctor ot the soppiy circuit The shoe 8 mey he reiseo by means of the erectile 5 end the raising mechanism connecteii thereto so thet the enc'iiess he'it me not ciernegeri.

The motor it my now he sterteci hy ciosing the noenneiiy operehie switch 2? .onehieie oi:

whicheontrois the motor eieciiit and the othei of which controis the circuit time, i

lessees the endiess belt and the operator will be nbie to watch them as they emerge from beneath the heated shoe.

If the tercoerctnre in any one of the sections of the s; cc hosted by the eienients 9, 10

"end exceeds at predetermined veins, the corresponding thermostat will more to en-- gs "e high terminal thereof, Iii" :inii width the ironing machine is need, the section which wiii rsech the prezieterniineri temperature will, in oil prohehiiity, he the middle one end, in this case, thermostnt 16 will operete to engage the h h contact terminei. This closes All cincuit es foiiows: ii-oin'oneconzinct r or the supply circiiit 5 through conductor i8 to thermostat in, through centimeter 23, through the coil 24's to contect terminei 25, switch hiede 2? end conductor 30 to the other conductor of the snppiycircnit 6, Thisenergizes the coii 24, censingit to ettrsctthe armature 28 end resulting in the feiede 2'? being disengaged from the terninei 25am?! engaging terminal 26, This operation intermpte the current throngh eii oi the heating eienients which may hove been connected in circuit through the switches '12, 13 end 14.,

When the temperature in the hot port of shoe has reached e predetei'ininsd reinimore seine, es tieterrninec'i by, the setting of "the contact termineis of the thermostats, the hiineteiiic strip will engege the low cont ct, end the ioiiowing wntroi circuit wiii be energized. From the one condoctor of the snppiy circuit ti, through conductor 18, thermostnt lo, throngh one of the blades the corresponding switch, for exempts, switch 13, through conductor 19, one of the hiedes of switch Y, conductor coii 2i, terminal 2% binds 27 and eontiuctor 39 to the other conductor of the supply circuit.

This enengizescoil 21, causing it to attract its orn e tore end move it into substsntisiiy the pos tion shown in Figs-i, re energizing e11 oi the heating eieinents 9, 10 and 11, which mey he eonnecteoi into circuit through the switches 12, i3 endi i. During the'opernt on of the ironing machine, the thermostats 'wiii, therei oreyhe operated to nieintein the tempere- "ture over suhstnntieiiy the entire shoe at on desired maximum veins. interruntins o 7 a the circuit whenever the temperature reaches or exceeds such reins enri egein closing the circuit when n preiieterniineci min mnn temperetnre is During eii this it iies wthin control the operetor to energize nny desired nuinher of tions, time permitting; greater economy i. the :ise'oi oi ergy for hosting shoe, so i\ te net necessary to continnoiiy energize oil 1 I V V of the heating elements during such times as relatively narrow objects, as, for instance, handkerchiefs, are being ironed.

When it is desired to shut down the machine, switches 12, 13 and 14 may be operated to interrupt their respective circuits, and the motor switch 7 may then be operated to open both the motor circuit and the thermostatic-control circuit. Should the operator forget, however, to operate the switches 12, 13 and 14 and operate only switch 7 to stop the motor, the temperature in the shoe would rapidly reach a maximum value, and the thermostat, op'eratively associated with the heating element causing the high temperature would engage its high contact terminal, close the control circuit, as

'hereinbefore described, and cause the switch imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim asmy invention:

1. 1h an electrically heated apparatus, the combination with a motor for driving said apparatus, a switch for controlling said motor circuit, and electric heating means for said apparatus, of circuit-controlling means for said heating means operated in accordance with said motor switch.

the combination with a motor for driving said apparatus, a switch for controlling said motor, and electric heating means for sald I apparatus, of circuit-controllingmeans for said heating means comprising a switch and a thermal-responsive device electrically interlocked with said motor switch. 7

3. In an electrically heated apparatus, the. combination with-a motor for operating said apparatus, a switch for. controlling said motor, and electric heating means'for said apparatus of a plural-position'switch forcontrolling the energization of said heating means, and a thermal device for actuating said plural position switch, said thermal device being interlocked with said motor switch to cause energization of said heating means when said motor switch is closed and to permit of. continuing the margintion of saidheating means after the motor switch. is opened until a predetermined temperature is reached. I

4. In an electrically heated apparatus,

means movable relative to said shoe, and electrical heating means for said shoe, of thermal-responsive means for limitin the temperature rise in said shoe to a pre eterrbnined value when said movable means is em rupting the circuit through said heating means at said predetermined value when said movable means is not operated.

5. In an electrically heated apparatus, the combination with a stationary shoe, means movable relative to said shoe, a mothe combination with a stationary shoe,

operated and for permanently inter tor for operating said movable means, and r a plurality of electrical heating means in said shoe, of a switch for controlling the energization of said heating means, ,and a plurality of thermal-responsive devices for actuating said control switch, said thermal-responsive devices being so interlocked with said motor circuit as to permit energization of said heating means when said motor is energized and to ermit of continuing the energization 0 said heatin means after the 'motor is de-energized unti a predetermined temperature is reached.

6. In an electrically heated and electrically operated apparatus, in combination, a motor for driving said apparatus, a

switch for controlling the circuit of said motor, an electric heating means for said apparatus, and means for controlling the energization of said heating means in accordance with the temperature of the device and the energization of said motor.

7. In an electrically heated and electrically-operated apparatus, in combination, a motor for driving said apparatus, a switch for controlling the circuit of said motor, an electric heatin means for said apparatus,

, a manually opera le switch and a thermally 2. In an electrically heated apparatus,

controlled electr'o-ma netic switch connected in series circuit relatlon for controlling the energization of said heating element, said thermally controlled electromagnetic switch being electrically interlocked with said m o- I tor switch.v i 8. In an electrically heated and electrically operated apparatus, in combination, -a motor for driving said apparatus, a, switch Ill forcontrolling the circuit of said motor, an 3 electric heating means for said apparatus, a manually operable switch and an electro;

magnetic switch for controlling the energization of said heating element, said electromagnetic switch being operated in accordance with the temperature of the device and also in accordance with the energization'of said motor.

9. In an electrically heated apparatus, in combination, a motor for driving said apparatus, a switch for controlling the circuit of said motor, an electricheating means for saidapparatus, a" manually operable switch and an electromagnetic switch for tion of said heating means after the motor is (fie-energized mm a predetermined term 10 perature of the apparatus is meshed In testimony whereof, I have hereunto sohseribed my name @3115 3rd deyof Feb. 1921;

FRANK F. FORSFEE. 

